The most beautiful rainbow was falling on Pagosa Springs Friday evening after a brief summer shower. Encircling the Divide as one looked east, the scene was transcendent. So why does it still feel like we’re on the back of an immense dragon not sure if it’s asleep or dead?

Suddenly, it lifts its tail slowly, then allows it to fall back down slamming the earth into a dust cloud. At the same time its head raises and turns a bloodshot red, left eye upon you. You shudder as you smell its smoky breath.

The Village at Wolf Creek has been repeating this scenario like a recurring nightmare. The question is: does the Forest Service continue to facilitate this monster born from a dubious union? Or does it take to the high ground surrounded by all the good, solid arguments and common sense that oppose this debacle and finally put an end to it.

Mr. McCombs, God bless him, does not have a good track record for mountain development. Would you permit BP to drill in your backyard without a safety relief shutoff valve? No.

We don’t need the “Village.” We don’t want it. End of story. Kill the dragon!

Mark Bergon

Target

Dear Editor:

Our local veterinarians need to be informed, as they are the next target of the HSUS. They are soliciting funds from the vets across America now. I hope that everyone can see through the wolf in sheep’s clothing, that they are not who you think they are. As you all know, HSUS (humane society of the US) is an organization whose mission is to end animal agriculture and to give animals the same rights humans have including the right to sue their owners.

If you want to learn more about them, check out www.HumaneWatch.org. You must watch your typing, it is large and small case sensitive, (capital H and W). The HSUS has a history of high jacking names of other organizations and they have done this with Humane Watch. This is important to impart if you are referring others to the website, especially if they aren’t familiar with the HSUS tactics.

As a local cattle producer, and a pet kennel owner, I am well aware of this organization, and how they misrepresent themselves to the unsuspecting person who thinks that the check that they mail in is going to save some poor dog or cat at our local shelter. That’s what they want you to think, and they have built a bloody fortune doing this. Please research the organization that you are mailing a donation to before you put a stamp on that envelope and pop it in the mail.

Thanks,

Patti Buck

Ignacio

Vision

Dear Editor:

“The War of Art,” a book by Steven Pressfield, exposes the personal blocks that stop the creative artist from converting an idea into something tangible. The “Resistance” has you clean the house, run the errands, or get into a fight with your spouse, all as a subtle maneuver to avoid actually doing the work. “Writer’s block” is a sneaky way that the “Resistance” stops the writer from actually writing something at his computer.

Beyond Pressfield’s journey into self-sabotage of your projects, career and dreams, the “Resistance” also shows up in your personal relationships — with others and with yourself.

Internal resistance defines what we do or do not accomplish in life, to a far greater extent than our desires and dreams. Often, the path into adulthood is delineated as a journey of abandoning our dreams, becoming “realistic,” and numbing ourselves to the feelings of passion, desire and vision.

The “Resistance” shows up in personal relationships, organizational relationships, and as war between nations. The path back from “stuck in a box” to “living the life of your dreams” is a journey from being the victim of your own “resistance” to mastering it and dancing elegantly with it.

Recently, I’ve worked on breaking out of the “box” of my personal limitations and fears in the Vision Seminar led by Carol Reynolds. This seminar will return on the weekend of July 30, 31, and Aug. 1.

I have seen myself and other people in Pagosa use this weekend workshop to uncover limiting beliefs and fears that stop them from living their life with passion and purpose. We have let go of past experiences with failed relationships and found the freedom to create a completely new relationship with our current partner instead of merely repeating the patterns of the past. I have let go of inhibitions to connecting with other people and having truly meaningful friendships.

For example, I found that a lot of the things that I wanted to change about my girlfriend disappeared in the Vision Seminar even though she had not attended yet. Her “issues” disappeared when I changed myself.

The purpose of the Vision Seminar is to remove your blocks to experiencing love in your life. Do you think that spending 27 hours in a weekend workshop on love and empowerment would make a difference in your life? How?

Carol Reynolds, the creator of the Vision Seminar, is credentialed with a master’s degree in education and counseling. She has 40 years experience counseling individuals and couples and had successful radio show and television talk show. She has been leading the Vision Seminar for 17 years. The seminar has no religious affiliation.

To find out more about the Vision Seminar coming back to Pagosa Springs on July 30, go take a look at www.carolreynolds.com or else give me a call at 903-3763 and ask me about it. At the moment, the seminar is by donation only and you only need to drive to the Pagosa Lodge. Get it while you can.

Teddy Herzog

Estimate

Dear Editor:

Thank you for covering the Republican Patriot’s Day picnic in last week’s paper.

I would like to point out a factual mistake in your article. Jim McQuiggin stated that there were “... about 75 area residents gathered in Town Park ...” Based on the ticket count, Dr. Baxstrom served 160 meals and there were also people who came to hear the speakers but did not eat. I would estimate the crowd was at least 180 people. In the future you may want to verify Mr. McQuiggin’s crowd estimates with the event sponsors to ensure accurate reporting by the Pagosa SUN.

Dagmar Huffman

Fair

Dear Editor:

Before we know it, the summer will be on its way out and we will look at he calendar to find it is Aug. 6 — county fair days. “Boots, Buckles and Barrels of Fun” is the theme this year, and a carnival will be added to the event schedule. The fair needs your help at this time. Start thinking of what you have growing in the garden. What creative and artistic items you and your children have made this year. Think of your favorite cookies, cake and goodies that you might share with the entire county. We need you to enter these items for all to see. Fair Books will be out soon and available in many business locations. They will give you information on the various categories you may enter. We of the fair board welcome you all and hope to see you there Aug. 6, 7 and 8, with all your exciting and interesting entries.

Janet Karn and the Archuleta County Fair Board

‘Annie’

Dear Editor:

I was privileged to be involved in Music Boosters’ production of “Annie,” one of the most successful productions in recent memory. The subject matter of the play turned out to be very timely as it is based on the period of the Great Depression, a time of national despair. However, the play focused on the optimism of a child, a child who refused to give up even when faced with dismal odds of ever finding her real parents and having a real family of her own.

I had the best seat in the house, conducting the musicians and actors. Every night I experienced a profound sense of joy exuding from the audience. It was as if a valve had been released and that optimism and hope that was indeed at the foundation of our country, surfaced and bubbled over in the hearts of those who attended the play. Each night, the audience would give the cast and instrumentalists a well-deserved standing ovation, and would sing along with the closing song, “The sun will come out tomorrow.”

There was plenty of comic relief as the script poked fun at both Democrats and Republicans. Even the Tea Party got a light jab on the last night of the production. But everyone recognized it as good fun and enjoyed the opportunity to laugh at our tendencies to take ourselves too seriously. At the final bows, the audience seemed genuinely united and thankful to have experienced this wonderful production.

Indeed, the arts have that unique ability to reach into the soul and offer salve for our wounds. (How very fortunate we are in our little community to have such an abundance of talented artists!) That joy and optimism permeated the entire cast, young and old alike, offering a certain respite and even healing to so many who have been drowning in the ongoing fears and anxieties over the nation’s problems.

It was my privilege and honor to have been a part of this very timely and wonderful production. Thank you, Music Boosters … you have certainly lived up to your name. “Annie” gave us all a boost!

Sincerely,

Sally Neel

Unemployment

Dear Editor:

The sad news is that 2,000,000 unemployed will lose their unemployment checks by July 1, unless the Senate acts to approve an extension of unemployment benefits. The sadder news is that 15,000,000 people are currently unemployed, 2,000,000 for more than six months.

The Republicans in the Senate are blocking action on this measure because, as they put it, they are concerned about adding to the deficit. But is it fair or right to attack the deficit on the backs of working men and women who want to work but can’t find a job because simply there aren’t any? The least we can do is provide sufficient funds for them to take care of the basics for themselves and their family until the economy recovers.

I would tell you to write Colorado’s Senators and tell them to vote for passage, but they already have. Write the Republicans leaders in the Senate, Mitch McConnell and John Kyl instead. Tell them to take care of America’s families now; don’t kick them when they are down.